Task

Reference

Questions

Develop an understanding of the purpose of the Texas Medical Board

Texas Medical Board

Spend about 5 minutes browsing sites that interest you. Note at this site (for future reference) that you can obtain information about requirements for licensure in Texas and about institutional permits.

What entity sets standards for licensure to practice medicine in Texas? 

Develop an awareness of the existence of the Federation of State Medical Boards.

Understand the relationship between the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and the Federation of State Medical Boards

Federation of State Medical Boards
 

Explore the links to Federation Facts and Federation Services from the home page. These 2 sites should help you understand that State Medical Boards send representatives to the FSMB to discuss issues, but that each State Board of Medical Examiners is ultimately responsible for setting the standards and requirements for licensure within that state.

Spend no more than 10-15 minutes at this site.

1.Does the FSMB set standards for licensure in each state?

2. Does the FSMB keep records of adverse actions taken against physicians and release that information to all states in which a physician holds a license?

Become familiar with the purpose of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). 

ABP

Review "The ABP and Board Certification"

1. What entity develops standards for Board Certification for pediatricians? 

2. Is Board Certification necessary for licensure in Texas? 

Become familiar with the various activities and purposes of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

AAP

You could probably spend several hours here, but for now just review the pages "About AAP", choosing the AAP fact sheet.

Perform one search of the AAP site for a topic of interest to you. (Example, enter "SIDS" in the keyword box and review AAP policy statements on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Or look for clinical practice guidelines for management of middle ear effusions.

Be careful—this site is addicting!

Does the AAP write Board Questions? If you don’t get this one, go back to NBME and ABP above. 

Be able to list 3 purposes of the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS).

Consider the role of local medical societies, such as the Bay Area Pediatric Society.

TPS

Review sites of interest to you, such as "about TPS" or "Current News".

Which organization was formed first: the AAP, TPS or ABP?

Understand how the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Texas Medical Association (TMA) are related to the Pediatric Professional Societies.
Note: The AMA and TMA are separate professional societies from the AAP and TPS. Membership in one does not confer privileges in the other. 

Access the TMA site and browse.

Also access the AMAsite

For purposes of this learning module, spend about 5 minutes there, but feel free to return any time on your own. 

Start considering the role of various professional societies in your future.